The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-04-01

pulled the trigger; the whitc fam
lcaped. and smart report followed.
.'I4isten nowr' / said.
/ held the oar steady, and the boat
swain ceased to dance the lantern. 70
the first few seconds 1 heard nothing
then my ear caught the throbbing sound
81 see her!" cried the boatsw ain
and. following his finger (my sight be
ing keener than my hearing. l saw
not only the shadow of vessel dow
in the southwest, but the smoke from
her funnel pouring along the stars.
MARY. cried, ''fire againI''
She drew the trigger.
Again.
The clear report whizzed like bull
let past my ears.
simultaneously with the second re
port ball of blue ire shot up into tn
sky. Another followed. and another.
A moment after q red light shOnt
clear upon the sea.
..She sees us!'' / cried. "God b,
praised! Mary, darling, she sees u.s."
l waved the lamp furiously. Blu
there was no need to wave it am
longer. The red light drew nearer anC
nearer; the throbbing of the engines
louder and louder. and the revolution.
of the propeller sounded like pulls,
beating through the water.
The shadow broadened and doomed
larger. could hear the water spout
ing out of her side and the blowing-Oi
of the satety-valve.
Soon the vessel grew a defined shape
against the stars, and then voice
thinncd by the distance, shouted
"What light is that?''
| cried to the boatswain: ANSWER
for Gods sake! My voice is weak"
He followed his hands and roared
back: ''Wc'rc shipwrecked seamen
adrift in quar,er-boat!'
Nearer and nearer came the shadow,
and now it was a long. black hall. a
funnel pouring forth a dense volume
of smoke. spotted with iire-sparks. and
tapering masts and fragile rigging,
with the stars running through them.
Ease herr
The sounds of the throbbinC grew
more measured. We could hear the
water as it was churned up by the screw.
stop herr'
The sounds ceased. and the vessel
came looming up slowly, until she
stopped.
.'What is that?-a boat?' exclaimed
a strong bass voice.
Yes" answered the boatswain
"We'vc been shipwreckcd; we re adrlft
in a uuarfar.hca ~
Can you bring her along-side?"
''Aye, aye, sir!''
threw out an oar, but trembled so
violently that it was AS much rs could
do to work it. We headed the boat
for the steamer and rowed toward her.
As We approached perceived that she
was very long. bark-rigged, and rak-
ing. manifestly powerful, iron-built
ocean steamer They hung a rel light
on the forestry and white light
over her port quarter, and lights fitted
about her gangway.
A voice sung out: GLOW many are
there of you?"
The boatswan answered: Three
men and a lady,"
On this the same voice called: '.It
you want help TO bring that boat along
side. Wen send tOyou."
well be alongside in few min
utes, returned the boatswain.
But the fact was, the vessel had
stopped her engines when farther OIL
from us then we had imagined; being
deceived by the magnitude of her loom
ing hail, which seemed to stand not a
,tln Nr.o1 fail 4
by the wonderful distinctness of the
voice that had spoken us.
l did no. know how feeble ] had be-
come until / took the oar: and the vio-
lent emotions excited in me by our res
cue, now TO be effected after our long
and heavy trials. diminished still the
little strength there was lett in me: so
that the boat moved very slowly
through the water. and it was full
twenty minutes, starting from the
time when we had shipped the oars.
before we came up with her.
Veil fling you a ropes end," said
a voice; look ont for it. -
A line fell into the boat. The boat
swain caught it, and sung out: "All
fast"
l looked up The high side of the
steamer: there was crowd of men as
sembled round the gangway. their
faces visible i'm the light Shed not only
by our own masthead lantern (Which
was on a level with the steamers hui
warks). but by other lanterns which
some of them held. In all this light
we, the occupants OF the boat, We're
to be clearly viewed from the deck:
and the voice that had first addressed
us said:
''Are You strong enough to get up
the ladder? If not, Wen sling you on
board"
answered that if a couple of hands
would come down into the boat so as to
help the lady and man (who had
fallen inbeciict over the ships side. the
other two would manage TO get OH
board without assistance
On this 4 short gangway-la6tlcr was
lowered, and two men descended and
got into the boat
Take that lady first" said, point
ing to Mary. but holding on. rs spoke.
to the boats mast. for l felt horribly
sick and faint and knew not, indeed.
what was going TO happen to me: and
had 10 exer: all my power to steady
my voice.
They took her by the arms, and
the moment when the wash |
Of the swell brought the boat against |
The ships side, landed her cieyeriy on |
the ladder and helped her onto the deck |
Bosom" cried, huskiiy, ..she-she
am dying, l think. God |
bless her! and = and = your hand.
l remember uttering these incoher-
mt words. and seeing the bostswain
spring forward to catch me. Then my